NYAM Celebrates Leaders Promoting Better Health

NEW YORK CITY, March 3 ??? The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) hosted its 15th Annual Gala on Thursday, April 30, at the Pierre Hotel. Leaders in medicine, health policy, finance, business, and the media joined NYAM in celebrating honorees whose work has strengthened systems to promote the public’s health and prevent disease. The generous contributions from the attendees support NYAM’s commitment to advancing the health of people in cities across the nation and around the world.

Over 350 guests honored NYAM at the 14th Annual Gala last June.

This year’s honorees are Bernard Poussot, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wyeth; Kraft Foods Inc.; and Elias A. Zerhouni, MD, former Director of the National Institutes of Health.

During Bernard Poussot’s 23-year tenure, Wyeth has become one of the largest research-driven pharmaceutical and healthcare products companies in the world. NYAM is proud to honor Mr. Poussot for his leadership in creating medicines that improve the health of the public. Wyeth has a long history of pioneering developments in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, with leading products in the areas of women’s health care, neuroscience, musculoskeletal disorders, vaccines and infectious disease, hemophilia, and oncology. With research and development programs focused on small molecules, vaccines, and biotechnology, Wyeth is exploring more than 90 new therapies for medical conditions such as diabetes, breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia.

Kraft Foods Inc. has a long-standing commitment towards healthy lifestyles. Kraft is continually improving their existing products and offering healthier options, providing clear nutrition information, advertising products responsibly to children, and promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles. Marc Firestone, Executive Vice President, Corporate and Legal Affairs and General Counsel of Kraft Foods Inc., will accept this award for their leadership in helping people adopt healthy lifestyles.

Elias A. Zerhouni, MD, a world renowned leader in the field of radiology and medicine, has been deeply committed to fostering research on the very best innovative technology for the healthcare system. As the fifteenth Director of the National Institutes of Health, he brought that innovative spirit to a re-ordering of the research agenda to promote interdisciplinary collaboration as fundamental to cutting edge science. Dr. Zerhouni is presently serving as the Scientific Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi-aventis and Senior Fellow in the Global Health Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. NYAM recognizes Dr Zerhouni’s outstanding career and his leadership connecting the work of the scientific community to the health needs of the public.

NYAM has been advancing the health of people in cities since 1847. An independent organization, NYAM addresses the health challenges facing the world’s urban populations through interdisciplinary approaches to innovative research, education, community engagement and policy leadership. Drawing on the expertise of diverse partners worldwide and more than 2,000 elected Fellows from across the professions, our current priorities are to create environments in cities that support healthy aging; to strengthen systems that prevent disease and promote the public’s health; and to implement interventions that eliminate health disparities.

Posted on March 12, 2009

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Contact:
Andrew J. Martin
Director of Communications
The New York Academy of Medicine
1216 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10029
212-822-7285
amartin@nyam.org

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